--- title: "Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 31" canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/yuddha-kanda/sarga-31" lang: "en" --- # Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 31 > ततस्तमक्षोभ्यबलं लङ्कायां नृपतेश्चराः। > सुवेले राघवं शैले निविष्टं प्रत्यवेदयन्॥ १॥ Returning from the Suvela mountain to Laṅkā, spies told the king about the celebrated Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) having encamped near the Suvela mountain with his army, which could not be shaken (from its position by the enemy). (1) > चाराणां रावणः श्रुत्वा प्राप्तं रामं महाबलम्। > जातोद्वेगोऽभवत् किंचित् सचिवानिदमब्रवीत्॥ २॥ Having heard from the mouth of his spies about Śrī Rāma, who was endowed with extraordinary might, having arrived (at his door), Rāvaṇa felt a bit perturbed and spoke as follows to his ministers: (2) > मन्त्रिणः शीघ्रमायान्तु सर्वे वै सुसमाहिताः। > अयं नो मन्त्रकालो हि सम्प्राप्त इति राक्षसाः॥ ३॥ “Let all my counsellors come at once fully composed; for now indeed has the time duly arrived for us to take counsel together, O ogres!” (3) > तस्य तच्छासनं श्रुत्वा मन्त्रिणोऽभ्यागमन् द्रुतम्। > ततः स मन्त्रयामास राक्षसैः सचिवैः सह॥ ४॥ Hearing his aforesaid command, all his counsellors instantly came together. Then he began to confer with the ogres, his ministers. (4) > मन्त्रयित्वा तु दुर्धर्षः क्षमं यत् तदनन्तरम्। > विसर्जयित्वा सचिवान् प्रविवेश स्वमालयम्॥ ५॥ Having for his part discussed that which was called for immediately and after that having dismissed the ministers, Rāvaṇa (who was difficult to overpower) penetrated deep into his own palace. (5) > ततो राक्षसमादाय विद्युज्जिह्वं महाबलम्। > मायाविनं महामायं प्राविशद् यत्र मैथिली॥ ६॥ Then, taking with him the ogre named Vidyujjihva, who was endowed with extraordinary might, skilled in conjuring tricks, nay, a great sorceror, Rāvaṇa entered in state the pleasance where Sītā (a princess of Mithilā) was. (6) > विद्युज्जिह्वं च मायाज्ञमब्रवीद् राक्षसाधिपः। > मोहयिष्यावहे सीतां मायया जनकात्मजाम्॥ ७॥ Nay, Rāvaṇa (the suzerain lord of ogres) spoke as follows to Vidyujjihva, who was a knower of conjuring tricks: “We two shall confound Sītā, daughter of Janaka, by means of conjuring tricks. (7) > शिरो मायामयं गृह्य राघवस्य निशाचर। > मां त्वं समुपतिष्ठस्व महच्च सशरं धनुः॥ ८॥ “Fetching an illusory head of Rāma (a scion of Raghu) and a mighty bow with an arrow, duly present yourself before me, O ranger of the night!” (8) > एवमुक्तस्तथेत्याह विद्युज्जिह्वो निशाचरः। > दर्शयामास तां मायां सुप्रयुक्तां स रावणे॥ ९॥ Commanded thus by Rāvaṇa, the ogre Vidyujjihva said, “Amen!” Nay, he displayed before Rāvaṇa the said conjuring trick, dexterously managed. (9) > तस्य तुष्टोऽभवद् राजा प्रददौ च विभूषणम्। > अशोकवनिकायां च सीतादर्शनलालसः॥ १०॥ > नैर्ऋतानामधिपतिः संविवेश महाबलः। > ततो दीनामदैन्यार्हां ददर्श धनदानुजः॥ ११॥ > अधोमुखीं शोकपरामुपविष्टां महीतले। > भर्तारं समनुध्यान्तीमशोकवनिकां गताम्॥ १२॥ > उपास्यमानां घोराभी राक्षसीभिरदूरतः। > उपसृत्य ततः सीतां प्रहर्षं नाम कीर्तयन्॥ १३॥ > इदं च वचनं धृष्टमुवाच जनकात्मजाम्। > सान्त्व्यमाना मया भद्रे यमाश्रित्य विमन्यसे॥ १४॥ > खरहन्ता स ते भर्ता राघवः समरे हतः। > छिन्नं ते सर्वथा मूलं दर्पश्च निहतो मया॥ १५॥ The king, Rāvaṇa, was pleased with him and parted in his favour with a precious ornament. Nay, eagerly longing, as he did, for a sight of Sītā, Rāvaṇa, the suzerain lord of ogres, who was endowed with extraordinary might, duly entered the Aśoka grove. Thereupon Rāvaṇa (a younger brother of Kubera, the bestower of riches) beheld the wretched princess, Sītā, who did not deserve the miserable plight to which she was being subjected, seated on the earth’s surface in the Aśoka grove with her head bent low, given over, as she was, to grief and thinking all the time of her husband and being kept on eye on at close quarters by hideous ogresses. Approaching Sītā, and mentioning his own name with great delight, he then addressed the following impudent words to Janaka’s daughter: “That husband of yours, Rāma (a scion of Raghu), the slayer of Khara, relying on whom you have been treating me with disdain while being coaxed by me, O blessed lady, has been killed in combat. Your roots stand completely severed and your vanity has been crushed by me. (10—15) > व्यसनेनात्मनः सीते मम भार्या भविष्यसि। > विसृजैतां मतिं मूढे किं मृतेन करिष्यसि॥ १६॥ “Compelled by your misfortune in the shape of your husband’s death, you will become my wife (of your own accord). Give up your present resolution of spurning my advances, O stupid woman! What will you do with your deceased husband?(16) > भवस्व भद्रे भार्याणां सर्वासामीश्वरी मम। > अल्पपुण्ये निवृत्तार्थे मूढे पण्डितमानिनि। > शृणु भर्तृवधं सीते घोरं वृत्रवधं यथा॥ १७॥ “Become, O blessed lady, the queen of all my consorts, now that your object in the shape of getting re-united with your husband has come to an end, O stupid woman of scant virtue, who deem yourself wise. Now hear, if you so please, the story of how your husband was killed, which is as hideous as that relating to the destruction of the demon Vṛtra at the hands of Indra. (17) > समायातः समुद्रान्तं हन्तुं मां किल राघवः। > वानरेन्द्रप्रणीतेन बलेन महता वृतः॥ १८॥ “Surrounded by a huge army collected by Sugrīva (the ruler of monkeys), they say, Rāma, a scion of Raghu, duly reached the sea-shore to destroy me. (18) > संनिविष्टः समुद्रस्य पीड्य तीरमथोत्तरम्। > बलेन महता रामो व्रजत्यस्तं दिवाकरे॥ १९॥ “While the sun was going to set, Rāma with his vast army forthwith duly struck camp encroaching upon the northern shore. (19) > अथाध्वनि परिश्रान्तमर्धरात्रे स्थितं बलम्। > सुखसुप्तं समासाद्य चरितं प्रथमं चरैः॥ २०॥ “Duly making their way at midnight to the army, which lay comfortably asleep, completely exhausted as it had been in the course of the journey, my spies first reconnoitred it. (20) > तत्प्रहस्तप्रणीतेन बलेन महता मम। > बलमस्य हतं रात्रौ यत्र रामः सलक्ष्मणः॥ २१॥ “The said army of Rāma was eventually destroyed during the night itself on the very spot where Rāma was encamping with Lakṣmaṇa, by my huge army led by Prahasta. (21) > पट्टिशान् परिघांश्चक्रानृष्टीन् दण्डान् महायुधान्। > बाणजालानि शूलानि भास्वरान् कूटमुद्गरान्॥ २२॥ > यष्टीश्च तोमरान् प्रासांश्चक्राणि मुसलानि च। > उद्यम्योद्यम्य रक्षोभिर्वानरेषु निपातिताः॥ २३॥ “Uplifting again and again scimitars, iron bars, small discuses, javelins, staffs, large weapons, bundles of arrows, darts, sparkling maces bristling with nails, sticks, iron clubs, lances, large discuses and Musalas, the ogres hurled them against the monkeys. (22-23) > अथ सुप्तस्य रामस्य प्रहस्तेन प्रमाथिना। > असक्तं कृतहस्तेन शिरश्छिन्नं महासिना॥ २४॥ “The head of Rāma, who was lying asleep at that moment, was then severed at once with a big sword by the ferocious Prahasta, who is skilled in archery. (24) > विभीषणः समुत्पत्य निगृहीतो यदृच्छया। > दिशः प्रव्राजितः सैन्यैर्लक्ष्मणः प्लवगैः सह॥ २५॥ “Springing up, he casually took Vibhīṣaṇa captive; while Lakṣmaṇa with the monkey troops was made to flee in all directions. (25) > सुग्रीवो ग्रीवया सीते भग्नया प्लवगाधिपः। > निरस्तहनुकः सीते हनूमान् राक्षसैर्हतः॥ २६॥ “Sugrīva, the suzerain lord of monkeys, lies prostrate with his neck broken; while Hanumān, with his lower jaw dashed off, has been killed by the ogres, O Sītā! (26) > जाम्बवानथ जानुभ्यामुत्पतन् निहतो युधि। > पट्टिशैर्बहुभिश्छिन्नो निकृत्तः पादपो यथा॥ २७॥ “While springing up, Jāmbavān was forthwith struck violently at the knees in a melee and, cut with many scimitars, was felled like a tree. (27) > मैन्दश्च द्विविदश्चोभौ तौ वानरवरर्षभौ। > निःश्वसन्तौ रुदन्तौ च रुधिरेण परिप्लुतौ॥ २८॥ > असिना व्यायतौ छिन्नौ मध्ये ह्यरिनिषूदनौ। > अनुश्वसिति मेदिन्यां पनसः पनसो यथा॥ २९॥ “Nay, the gigantic Mainda and Dwivida, the foremost among the best of monkeys and the well-known slayers of their foes, who were breathing hard and groaning, bathed as they were in blood, have both been actually cut into two with a sword at the waist. Burst open like a ripe jack fruit, Panasa lies on the ground gasping for breath (28-29) > नाराचैर्बहुभिश्छिन्नः शेते दर्यां दरीमुखः। > कुमुदस्तु महातेजा निष्कूजन् सायकैर्हतः॥ ३०॥ “Pierced with numerous steel arrows, Darīmukha is lying in a ravine; while Kumuda, who was endowed with extraordinary energy, lies shrieking, struck down with arrows. (30) > अङ्गदो बहुभिश्छिन्नः शरैरासाद्य राक्षसैः। > परितो रुधिरोद्गारी क्षितौ निपतितोऽङ्गदः॥ ३१॥ “Pierced by the ogres with many arrows after marching towards him, Aṅgada, who was adorned with armlets, lies fallen down on the ground, vomiting blood on all sides. (31) > हरयो मथिता नागै रथजालैस्तथापरे। > शयाना मृदितास्तत्र वायुवेगैरिवाम्बुदाः॥ ३२॥ “Lying asleep there, other monkeys were crushed by elephants and multitudes of chariots even as clouds are rent asunder by force of wind. (32) > प्रसृताश्च परे त्रस्ता हन्यमाना जघन्यतः। > अनुद्रुतास्तु रक्षोभिः सिंहैरिव महाद्विपाः॥ ३३॥ “Nay, pursued by ogres as huge elephants are by lions, still other monkeys fled panic-stricken while being struck in the back. (33) > सागरे पतिताः केचित् केचिद् गगनमाश्रिताः। > ऋक्षा वृक्षानुपारूढा वानरीं वृत्तिमाश्रिताः॥ ३४॥ “Some took a plunge into the sea, while others sought refuge in the air, nay, resorting to the ways of monkeys, the bears climbed up trees (in order to escape destruction at the hands of the ogres). (34) > सागरस्य च तीरेषु शैलेषु च वनेषु च। > पिङ्गलास्ते विरूपाक्षै राक्षसैर्बहवो हताः॥ ३५॥ “Nay, many more well-known monkeys have been killed by the ogres with fierce eyes on the shores of the sea, as well as in the midst of rocks as also in the woods. (35) > एवं तव हतो भर्ता ससैन्यो मम सेनया। > क्षतजार्द्रं रजोध्वस्तमिदं चास्याहृतं शिरः॥ ३६॥ “In this way has your husband been destroyed with his forces by my army. Soaked in blood and smeared with dust, his head too has been brought here to convince you of his death.” (36) > ततः परमदुर्धर्षो रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। > सीतायामुपशृण्वत्यां राक्षसीमिदमब्रवीत्॥ ३७॥ Rāvaṇa, the lord of ogres, who was most difficult to overpower, then spoke as follows to an ogress within the close hearing of Sītā: (37) > राक्षसं क्रूरकर्माणं विद्युज्जिह्वं समानय। > येन तद्राघवशिरः संग्रामात् स्वयमाहृतम्॥ ३८॥ “Bring politely to my presence the ogre Vidyujjihva of cruel deeds, by whom has the well-known head of Rāma (a scion of Raghu) been personally brought from the field of battle.” (38) > विद्युज्जिह्वस्तदा गृह्य शिरस्तत्सशरासनम्। > प्रणामं शिरसा कृत्वा रावणस्याग्रतः स्थितः॥ ३९॥ Holding the aforesaid head alongwith a bow, and making a respectful salute with his head bent low, Vidyujjihva now stood in front of Rāvaṇa. (39) > तमब्रवीत् ततो राजा रावणो राक्षसं स्थितम्। > विद्युज्जिह्वं महाजिह्वं समीपपरिवर्तिनम्॥ ४०॥ > अग्रतः कुरु सीतायाः शीघ्रं दाशरथेः शिरः। > अवस्थां पश्चिमां भर्तुः कृपणा साधु पश्यतु॥ ४१॥ King Rāvaṇa thereupon spoke as follows to the said ogre, Vidyujjihva, who had a long tongue and stood nearby: “Place at once in front of Sītā the head of Rāma (son of Daśaratha). Let the poor woman clearly behold the ultimate condition of her husband.” (40-41) > एवमुक्तं तु तद् रक्षः शिरस्तत् प्रियदर्शनम्। > उपनिक्षिप्य सीतायाः क्षिप्रमन्तरधीयत॥ ४२॥ Placing that head, which was agreeable to look at, by the side of Sītā, when commanded as aforesaid, the said ogre for his part instantly vanished out of sight (42) > रावणश्चापि चिक्षेप भास्वरं कार्मुकं महत्। > त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातं रामस्यैतदिति ब्रुवन्॥ ४३॥ Nay, Rāvaṇa too cast down the brilliant and mighty bow, saying: “This is the bow, famed in all the three worlds, belonging to Rāma.” (43) > इदं तत् तव रामस्य कार्मुकं ज्यासमावृतम्। > इह प्रहस्तेनानीतं तं हत्वा निशि मानुषम्॥ ४४॥ “This is the bow,” he added, “belonging to your Rāma, duly provided with a string and brought hither by Prahasta after disposing of that mortal at night.” (44) > स विद्युज्जिह्वेन सहैव तच्छिरो > धनुश्च भूमौ विनिकीर्यमाणः। > विदेहराजस्य सुतां यशस्विनीं > ततोऽब्रवीत् तां भव मे वशानुगा॥ ४५॥ Casting the bow too on the ground at the same place where the aforesaid head had been placed by Vidyujjihva, Rāvaṇa then said to that illustrious daughter of Janaka (the ruler of the Videha territory), “Now submit to my will.” (45) Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana --- Source: Gita Press, Gorakhpur editions. 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